Tuesday, July 19, 2016

A Simple Vow Excerpt Tour @GoddessFish

A Simple Vow

by Charlotte Hubbard

ROOM WITH BOOKS encourages our readers to follow the tour and please, leave comments as you go!

GENRE: Inspirational Romance (Amish)

Housed in a rustic red barn, the Simple Gifts crafts shop celebrates the talents of the Amish of Willow Ridge—and the faith that inspires them. For the acceptance of simplicity opens the path to love.

As far as Edith Riehl is concerned, the baby twins thrust suddenly into her arms are a heaven-sent gift. Unable to conceive, she longs to be a mother with a home of her own. She’s going to abide by her promise to handsome Asa Detweiler to take care of them while he looks for their real father. And even if her domineering dat Cornelius refuses to countenance Asa’s suit, she can only pray the bachelor’s honesty and persistence will uncover the truth—even as he’s kindled an impossible hope for a love of her own…

Asa can’t understand why anyone would think he would be so dishonorable as to father babies and then abandon them. He’s determined to clear his name—but Edith’s caring ways also inspire him to help heal her wounded spirit and earn her trust. In the face of heartbreaking deception, he and Edith must find the strength to understand, forgive…and claim their own hearts’ joy.

Turning quickly to hide her tears, Edith swayed faster as she clasped the twins to her shoulders. Dat made a valid point, but his harshness made her heart shrivel in sympathy for the twins. Her head was starting to pound with their strident cries. She could barely think, much less refute her father’s claims.

“I know how you always side with the underdog—how your heart opens wide any time you’re around little children,” Dat murmured as he approached her. “But I’m watching out for your best interests, Daughter. You entered into this agreement without considering the long-term consequences. What man will marry you if you’re saddled with twins who aren’t even yours? You’ll be stuck at home forever, doomed to be a maidel—a single mother—while all your friends find happy lives with suitable husbands.”

Who would marry me anyway? Edith thought sorrowfully. I’d be a liar if I didn’t tell a potential husband that I’m unable to bear his children . . . because Dat didn’t take me to the doctor soon enough. If only my appendix hadn’t burst. If only the infection hadn’t attacked my female organs . . .

Edith bit her lip against a sob. It wasn’t right to dredge up her past resentment—not after she’d forgiven her father years ago, at Mamm’s insistence. Dat was standing close enough behind her that she could feel the disapproval radiating from his body as he awaited her compliance. She dared not mention the vow she’d made to that strikingly handsome stranger.

Promise me that you’ll mother these kids—and that you’ll hear me out when I return, all right? His voice still echoed in her mind, mysterious and compelling.

Asa Detweiler had no idea how desperately she longed to be a mother—how she’d agreed to care for these twins to satisfy her own selfish desires. She’d believed him to be sincere and compassionate, but she dared not mention that to her father, either. Cornelius Riehl had lost a large part of his heart and soul when Mamm passed away, but that didn’t mean he’d lowered his expectations for his three daughters. If anything, he held them to higher standards now that Mamm wasn’t around to buffer his gruffness, his moods.

Many moons ago—like, in 1983 while she was still a school librarian—Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. This launched her into writing around seventy of those “true confessions” stories over the years, and she’s been a slave to her overactive imagination ever since. Over the course of her writing career, she has sold nearly 50 books—most recently, Amish romance series she’s written as Charlotte Hubbard or Naomi King.

Charlotte lived in Missouri for most of her life, so her Amish stories are set in imaginary Missouri towns. These days she lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Ramona.